John 15- Flashcards
(2 cards)
John 15:5–8
🌿 “The Vine and the Branches – Stay connected to bear fruit”
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Detailed Analysis (based entirely on your notes):
In this passage, Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and branches to illustrate the nature of our relationship with Him. He is the vine, and we are the branches—organically connected, drawing life, strength, and nourishment directly from Him. The Father is the root, the foundational source that grounds the entire tree. Each part depends on the other, and without connection, the structure collapses.
Remaining in Jesus means maintaining a living, breathing relationship with Him through prayer, worship, obedience, and submission. When we abide in Him like this, we begin to bear fruit—the visible evidence of Christ’s character in us (Galatians 5:22–23). These are not just moral improvements; they are supernatural traits that reflect our transformation. But this fruitfulness is conditional: apart from Jesus, we are powerless. Our actions, no matter how moral they appear, lose their eternal weight when severed from Christ.
Jesus gives a stark warning too: those who don’t remain in Him become like dead branches—withered, discarded, and ultimately burned. This imagery isn’t casual—it’s a direct reference to judgment and spiritual death, echoing John 14:6, where Jesus said no one comes to the Father except through Him. Persistent disconnection is rejection of the only source of life.
On the flip side, those who remain in Him and allow His words to remain in them are promised that they can “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done.” This isn’t about selfish desire—it’s about alignment. When your desires are shaped by His Word, your prayers reflect His heart. Jesus is ready to bless you, to give you the life you dream of—but He asks for yours in return. Just as He gave up His life for you, He calls you to surrender yours in obedience.
Jesus goes even further: bearing fruit is how the world knows who His real disciples are. It’s not about what you say or how much scripture you quote—it’s about the life you live. The Pharisees knew the law, but their lives lacked fruit. A true follower of Christ lives with humility, action, and evidence of change. It’s not about image—it’s about inward transformation producing outward results.
And how do we remain in Him practically? By ensuring that His words remain in us. This stresses the importance of scripture memory and study. The Word is our weapon, and like any soldier, we must be armed and ready. If you don’t refresh yourself regularly in scripture—through flashcards, notes, or study—you risk spiritual amnesia, forgetting vital truths when the enemy strikes. “If you don’t use it, you lose it” applies directly here.
By keeping the Word alive in you, you stay aware of your spiritual mission. You’re not just reacting to life—you’re walking in purpose, understanding your assignment in every moment.
John 15:12–17
🤝 “Chosen for Friendship and Fruit—Love like Christ, not like the world”
12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
17 This is my command: Love each other.”
Detailed Analysis (based entirely on your notes):
Jesus issues a simple but weighty command: Love one another as I have loved you. This echoes Matthew 7:12, where He teaches us to treat others as we’d like to be treated. But here, Jesus raises the bar even higher—His kind of love is sacrificial, even to the point of death. The greatest expression of love, He says, is laying down one’s life for a friend. This love isn’t about words or gestures—it’s about action and selflessness.
Jesus redefines our relationship with Him. It’s not a slave-master dynamic where the servant obeys out of fear or distance. In that kind of relationship, there’s no real intimacy—just command and compliance. But Jesus calls us friends. Why? Because He’s been completely open with us—He shared everything the Father gave Him. He didn’t hide behind divine mystery; He revealed the heart of God in every teaching, parable, and act of compassion. That openness is proof of His friendship.
And here’s something even deeper: you didn’t choose Jesus—He chose you. Long before you knew Him, He saw you, looked into your family line, your history, your heart—and singled you out. He appointed you to carry a divine assignment with eternal weight. He gave you a calling with a due date: your life. And just like a student is judged by a mark scheme, your life will be examined—but by a perfect and fair God, who knows the intention behind every action.
The mission? To bear fruit—fruit that lasts. This fruit isn’t temporary success or outward achievement. It’s the eternal, Spirit-born character of Christ living in you. And as you walk in obedience and love, Jesus promises that whatever you ask in His name, the Father will grant. That’s not a blank check for material gain—it’s a deep promise that, when your desires are aligned with Christ, your requests carry Kingdom authority.
Finally, Jesus repeats what He started with: Love each other. This isn’t optional. It’s the core command that distinguishes you as His friend and disciple. His love isn’t like the world’s love—it’s holy, selfless, and always rooted in truth. That same love has been given to you—so now, pass it on.
